Bass viol stand



4 6 9 l 0 9 V1 a 4/ \3 mm, m f IJ mu m =0 6 AT 2 3 Z M MT m 2 s A s E. 2 llnflflu M W March 28, 1950 J MILLER BASS VIOL STAND Flled July 2 1946 g E I March 28, 1950 J. MILLER BASSVIOL STAND 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1946 NBA "w 2/20 2 ZZ INVENTOR. JAM/5s MILLER,

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BASS VIOL STAND James Miller, South Norwalli, Conn.

Application July 2, 1946, Serial No. 680,954

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a stand for a bass viol, particularly a double bass.

Bass viols i. e. double basses and cellos are supported for playing by a rod set into a socket at the bottom of the viol and resting upon the floor, requiring that the bass viol be manually supported at the top in the desired inclined position by the player. In orchestras, during intermissions, stands are employed to hold the instrument when the player leaves his position. Such stands usually comprise a base with an upwardly extending rod having a pair of arms for embracing the double base at its bouts. Such stands are not suitable for holding the bass viol while it is being played, since the arms interfere with operation of the bow, and the tilting movement differs from that to which players are accustomed when the bass viol rests upon its support rod. It is often difficult for inexperienced players learning to play a bass viol to concentrate onfingering and manipulation of the bow, while at the same time supporting the instrument. Moreover, in dance orchestras, it is sometimes desired by the player to spin the bass viol while plucking the strings. When the instrument rests solely on the support rod, conventionally employed, there is danger, during such manipulation, of losing control of the instrument and of its falling, so as to damage the instrument or the surrounding furniture. Stands heretofore employed are not adapted or capable of supporting the bass viol against falling while it is played, of holding it in upright position while not in use, and of permitting it to tilt in the desired manner while it is being played.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a firm and stable support for a bass viol, replacing the support rod normally employed, which can be readily and conveniently manipulated to support the bass viol in rigid upright or adjusted inclined position when not in use, or when the player desires to concentrate on fingering and bow manipulation without manually supporting the instrument, and which is likewise adapted to permit tilting of the instrument in the manner normally used in playing. It is also an object to provide a stand of the aforesaid type which permits spinning of the bass viol while at the same time eliminating the danger of its falling over. In connection with the foregoing objects it is also an object of the invention to provide a stand for a bass viol which can be readily set up for use, and conveniently collapsed to compact form for storage or transportation. Still another object is to provide means for modifying the stand so that it can be used either for a double bass or a cello.

A stand for a bass viol or double bass, in accordance with my invention, comprises a base adapted to rest upon the floor and extending sufliciently to provide a stable support for an instrument of the aforesaid type. The base comprises a central hub or housing having a projection or pin extending upward therefrom, which is shaped to fit the socket normally provided at the bottom of a double bass or cello for receiving the support rod normally employed therewith. The pin is mounted on the base at a universal joint so as to be movable from a vertical to limited inclined positions in any direction, preferably by means of a ball and socket joint having a limited range of movement, so that an instrument supported on the pin can be tilted to the desired extent in the customary manner during playing. My stand also comprises clamping means for holding the pin in any chosen position, such means comprising, for example, a releasable clamp operating upon the ball and socket joint at which the pin is mounted on the base, adapted to prevent movement of the pin on the housing. The clamp can be conveniently operated by a pedal.

In order to provide a stable support, the base comprises a plurality of feet which extend outward from the housing and pin, and rest upon the floor to prevent the stand and the instrument supported thereby from tipping over. The feet extend outward sufiiciently to prevent the stand and instrument from tipping over when the pin is tilted to its limiting inclined position on the base. Preferably the feet as well as the pedal or other means for operating the clamp of the ball and socket joint are arranged to collapse together when the stand is lifted from the floor, so as to reduce the stand to a compact form, suitable for transportation or storage.

When used, the stand is placed on the floor with its feet extended and the bass viol is brought into engagement with the upwardly extending pin, the latter being inserted in the socket provided therefor at the bottom of the instrument. When the clamp means is released, it permits limited movement of the pin to vertical or inclined positions in any direction, in the same manner as when the instrument is supported on a conventional support rod. When the clamp means is operated to engage the pin, it holds it against movement in any direction and the instrument is supported in any desired upright or partly inclined position. When the clamping means is released, the instrument can be spun on its base without fear of its falling over. Since no part of the stand extends above the bottom of the bass viol, the latter can be rigidly supported by the stand, and at the same time played without interference from the stand.

My invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connec-- tion with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a perspective View of astand in accordance with my invention, set up for use to support a double bass;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stand, collapsed for transportation or storage;

Fig. 3 is a plan elevation, partly sectioned, of my stand set up for use;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the stand along the line t-t in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectionalong the line 5-45 of Fig. 3 and including in addition. an adapter for using the stand with a cello.

Referring to the drawings, the double bass stand of myinvention comprises a hollow hub or housing it, the lower portion of which is cylindricaLandits interior surface it adjacent the-upper end being spherical and terminating in a. circular aperturelfi. A spherical ball 13 havingthereon a projection or pin M which projects upward through the aperture i2 is positioned within the housing It, the spherical surface of the ball 13 atthe base of pin it fitting against thespherical surface on the interior of the housing Ill and forming a. universal joint. The aperture gli'. has a somewhat larger radius than the-base of the pin i Ljthus limiting motion of theiball and pin relative to the housing so that the pin [4 can tilt only to a limited extent in direction.

The pin Hi is shaped so as to fit into the conventional aperture It in the block it normally provided at the bottom of abass viol, in this case a double bass, receiving the conventional supportrod. lihus, as illustrated in Fig. l, the pin litapers from its base toward its tip and is adapted to'fit tightly into the tapered aperture thin the block it of the double bass.

Meansis-provided for releasably clamping the ball [3 in any position in the socket constituted by the interior of the housing to prevent movement of the ball relative to the housing. Suchmeans comprises a clamp member H in the form. of a ringhaving a central aperture l8 and an upwardly faced spherical surface It for gaging thelower portion of the surface of the ball it. The clamp member if is positioned withinthe housing it below call it and is supported. by a washer 2B3. ltisclosed by a plate or plug 25 having on its uppersurface atransverse channel 522. A collar 23 surrounds the base of the housing it, and the collar as well as the plate 2! are rigidly assembled with the housing it, for example, by means of set screws 24.

Operating means for the clamp member El comprises a rod 25 extending through the channei.22 and journaled and Men opposite sides of housing ill in the collar 23 and the walls of the housing). The rod comprises an eccentric portion relying within the channel and acting as a cam for raising and lowering the washer it, upon rotation. of rod iii. The rod 735 is retained in engagement with the housing it Atits base, thehousing i and carries on its outer end a T-shaped pedal 29,

thecross bar 39 of the pedal 29 being raised, for example, about an inch above the level of the rod orthe floor. The pedal 29 is secured to therod by aset screw 3! which permits adjustment of the pedal on the rod 25 in such position that the pedal moves the eccentric clamp operator 28 between clamping and releasing positions bydepressingopposite ends of the cross bar 30 with the foot.

In. order to permit rod'25 and the pedal 30 to be collapsed for transportation of the stand, the bar 225 comprises a hinge32 and a sleeve, 33 which can beslid over. the hinge tohold the rod in rigid extendedposition for use, or when moved outward along the rod, to release the hinge 32 so that the rod can collapse downward from the housing It to the position shown in Fig. 2.

,M ans forsupporting the housing In and its associated mechanism on a floor orother supportcoinprises a plurality of legsSfi secured to and extending radially outward from the collar 23, at. the base of the housing Hi. The legs 3A are connected to the, collar 23 at hinges 35 comprising iorexainple a bolt '36 extending through a bifurcated linlrgt'l on the ring 23 and engaging a corr..sp...-ding apertured linlr 38, on the adjacent inner end of each of the feet 34. The feet are thus, adapted to collapse downward at the hinge lit to the position shown in Fig. 2 when the stand is raised from the floor. On their upper surface, the feet il lcompriss a rib 39.'termi nating in a stopqtli which engages the outer surface of the housing litwhen the feet are extended in radial directionwith their lower surfaces resting upon the floor. Thus, the feet 34. prevent tilting of the centraLhousi-ngof the stand when it is set up for When the standis set up for use, the legs ,ihi extend outward from the pin [4- far enough;topreventthe and an instrument supported thereby fronrtipping over when the pinis ,tiltedto its limiting inclined position as determined by the periphery of the aperture 12 in housinglt.

flhestandds normally transported in collapsed pcsitionas shown in Fig. 2, withthe feet 34 fO]dGd.'d0Wl'l\VETd at hinges {it and rod :25 collapsedlat hinge 132, the sleeve being moved outward .alongthe rod-until itdisengages the latter hinge. In this condition'the stand constitutes acompact device, convenientfor storage and transportation.

order to .set thestand for use, the feet are moved .toiadial, position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 imtilthe stops it? engage the housing It. Rod t5 ,isextended by straightening hinge 32 and it in extended condition by sliding the sleevett over thehinge to the position as shown in F' l 4. A hass viol, particularly a double bass this placed upon the pin 14, the latter being insertedin the aperture Hi providedin, blookjlfi at the bottom of the doublebass. By depressing one end ofthe pedal-tithe eocentric portion 28 of rod 25 is rotated downward from the position shown for example in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus releasing the washer and clamp member I! from engagement with the ball I3, so that the latter can move freely within the housing I0. When the clamp means is thus released the pin I4 can be moved to various tilted positions to an extent limited only by engagement of pin I4 with the periphery of the aperture I2 at the top of the housing. Thus the instrument can be manually tilted and rotated in the same manner as when supported on its conventional support rod for playing. However, the maximum tilting permitted by engagement of pin I4 with the edge of the aperture I2, and the extensive support provided by feet 34, prevents the instrument from falling over sideways, when released. Thus, it can be spun, if desired, while playing without fear of accidental damage to the instrument or surrounding objects.

By depressing the opposite end of the pedal 3% the eccentric portion 28 of rod is raised to the position shown in Fig. 5 forcing washer 29 and clamp member I! against the ball I3 and thus frictionally holding the pin I4 in any position which it may occupy. The instrument 4! can be thus supported rigidly in any desired position either when it is not in use, or for playing without necessity of support, no portion of the stand interfering with manipulation of the bow or the fingering.

It is sometimes desirable to provide means whereby the stand of this invention can be used interchangeably, not only for a double bass but also for a cello. This is accomplished quite simply by means of an adapter 42 having in its lower end 43, a socket 44 which fits pin E4 of the stand, and the upper portion of the adapter terminating in a pin of a shape similar to pin I4, but adapted to fit an aperture conventionally provided at the bottom of a cello, similar to the aperture I5 in a block I 6 of the double bass. The adapter 42 is simply placed on the pin I4, thus extending the latter to the desired height, and the pin 45 is inserted in the corresponding socket of the cello. In this way the stand can be used for either instrument interchangeably.

In order to collapse the stand for transportation, sleeve 33 is slid outward on rod 25 to disengage hinge 32 and the stand is raised from the floor by its pin I4 or housing l0 whereby the feet 34 as well as the outer portion of rod 25 collapse of themselves at their respective hinges to the condition shown in Fig. 2.

In order to lubricate the ball and socket joint of my stand, set screws 24 are withdrawn and plate 2| removed from the base of the housing I0, whereupon lubricant can be introduced through the central aperture of washer 20, and aperture I8 of clamp member I'I.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A stand for a bass viol comprising a central portion including means for engaging the bottom of a bass viol to support the same on the stand; a plurality of feet extending outward from said central portion to provide a flat base, said feet being mounted on the central portion by hinges for collapsing downward therefrom; and stop means for preventing upward movement of the feet about their hinges beyond their fully extended position.

2. A stand for a bass viol comprising a supporting base; a pin projecting upward from said base for fitting into the socket at the bottom of a bass viol, said pin being mounted on said base at a ball and socket joint permitting rotation of the pin and limited tilting movement thereof from vertical position in any direction; means for clamping said ball and socket joint to prevent movement of the pin relative to said base in any adjusted position; an operator for said clamping means and a plurality of feet extending laterally outward from said base to provide a flat extension of said base, said operator and said feet including hinges for collapsing downward when the base is lifted from a supporting surface; stop means for preventing upward movement of the feet about their hinges beyond fully extended position; and lock means for holding the hinge of said operator in fully extended position.

3. A stand for a bass viol comprising a housing; a plurality of feet extending from the housing for supporting the same in upright position on a supporting surface; a pin projecting upward through an aperture in the housing and fitting into the socket at the bottom of a bass viol; a ball on the base of the pin within the housing and forming with the latter a ball and socket joint, the periphery of said aperture limiting the tilting movement of the pin at said ball and socket joint; clamp means within the housing comprising a clamping member for engaging the undersurface of said ball; a rod extending transversely through the housing having thereon a cam for moving said clamping member between lowered released position and raised clamping position upon rotation of the rod in opposite directions, said operating rod extending laterally outward from the housing and having a pedal on its outer end for rocking said cam between clamping and releasing positions; a hinge intermediate the ends of said rod for collapsing its outer end downwardly from said housing; a sleeve on said rod, slidable over said hinge for retaining the same in extended position; and said feet including hinges at which they are likewise collapsible downward from extended position, and stop means for preventing upward movement of the feet beyond said extended position.

JAMES MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 420,969 Seaman Feb. 11, 1890 654,051 Brown et a1. June 17, 1900 2,180,214 Rapp Nov. 14, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 598,561 France Sept. 29, 1925 76,236 Austria Apr. 25, 1919 198,180 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1938 

